in the still of the night

dark thoughts are the best. they calm, calm, calm me. without them, the hours creep.

to some, this might seem like a curse. this need to sleep while the world wakes, to always fly from the light and seek out corners, to lie quiet in a box, thinking dark thoughts.

but, dark thoughts are the best. they paint no rosy pictures. they involve nothing as trivial as graduation days or clandestine romances, suave husbands or seductive wives. dark thoughts are born safe in knowledge that bright lights eventually must grow dim. graduation must lead to unrewarding toil; romance, to ugly husbands and frumpish wives.

late nights are when i shine. when you sleep, clumsily, vulnerable. when you dream light dreams, while i stalk the streets. when you curl up into a little ball while i step lightly, mallet in hand. to some, this too might seem like a curse. this need to beat, beat, beat to death.

they fail to see, how my dark thoughts set them free. until they do, i bide my time and quietly lie. my mallet sleeps beside me while i dream no dreams. soon now, it will be time. the dogs no longer bark. streetlights sputter and gasp. these limbs begin to wake, blood slowly shaking them from their stony silence.

sleep while you can, my pretty ones. let your late nights calm you, your dreams beguile you. pray that these late nights let me shine. smile and cuddle up, while clouds scatter across the skies above you. let this, what you might call a curse, come and set you free.

dark thoughts are the best. i push open the lid. i rise.